Lee Wallard

Lee Wallard

8/9/1911 - 28/11/1963

Won Indy 500 in 1951. Lee first raced on the most famous oval of the world in 1948. Driving a Meyer, Lee did not qualify well and started 28th on the grid. In the race Lee managed to finish on the same lap as the leader in a creditable 7th place. This same year, he took part in his first race in national championship AAA, in Illinois, on the DuQuoin oval. In 1949, Lee took the lead of the Indy 500 on the 36th lap, but unfortunately did not finish. In 1950, Lee erased the disappointment of the previous year, he qualified his Moore in 23rd position on the starting grid, and as in 1948, moved through the field to be classified in the 6th place.
At Indy in 1951, Although running the popular Offenhauser 4 cylinder normally aspirated engine, Wallardâ€™s car conceded almost 30 inches in engine displacement to the other normally aspirated cars. In spite of this Wallard managed to qualify second behind Duke Nalon. The first part of the race was a tight battle but Lee took control at about half distance and went to win. Two weeks later Wallard was seriously injured in a sprint car crash and suffered severe burns. He attempted a comeback, but the scarring from the burns left him unable to perspire and forced his retirement.
Lee Wallard died from a heart attack in Florida on November 28, 1963, he was 53 years old.

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Born on the same day.

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